Improvement in folding chairs



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B. F. LITTLE.

FOLDING-CHAIR. I

' Patented Jan. 16, 1877.

.PEIERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAF I tudinal center, is a bar,

U1\TITED STATEs N PATENT OFEIcE.

BENJAMIN E. LITTLE, or NonwIomNEw YORK, AssIGNoE To HIMsEIQE AND E, B. PEINDLE, on sAME PLAGE. I

IMPROVEMENT IN FO'LDING CHAIRS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 186.353, dated January 16, 1877; application tiled Y December 13, 1876.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. LITTLE, of Norwich, in the county of Ghenango, and in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful `Improvements in Folding Chairs; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompan ying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of my Aimproved chair arranged for storage. Fig. 2 is a like view of the same, as arranged for use; and Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical central sections upon a line passing from front to rear, and show, respectively, rigid and flexible seats..

` Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

The design of my invention is to increase \the strength and durability of a foldingchair, and to` render it more conveniently folded ,to which end it consists, principally, in the construction and combination of the portions which operate to sustain the seat, substan` tially as and for the purpose hereinafter speci- It consists, further, in the chair as a whole, its several parts being constructed and combined to operate in the manner and for the `purpose hereinafter shown.

In the annexed drawings, A represents a rail, which is formed longitudinally upon a double reverse curve, and isarranged parallel with a second similar rail, A, and is connected to or with the same by means of several cross-bars, B, that extend between said parts. Pivoted upon the inner face of each rail A, at a point somewhat belowl its longi- G, which extends in rear of said rail, somewhat farther than in front of the same, and has its front end connected toor with the corresponding end `of a similar bar, G, by means of a rung, D, that extends between and is secured to said parts. Upon the outer face at the rear end of each `bar Gis pivoted a bar, E, which has about one-half the length of the rail A, and extends to substantially equal distances from its pivotal bearing. The upper and lower ends of said bar E are connected with the correspondcess a. of said rail A.

ing ends of a second, similar bar, E, by means of rungs F and G, respectively, which extend between and are secured to said ends. At the upper end of each bar E is provided a pin, e, which, when said bar is placed 'in the position shownin Figs. 2, 3, and 4, correspondingly shaped recess, c, that is formed within the contiguous portion of the rear edge ot' tbe rail A, and serves to insure therelative positions of said parts. The rungs D and F occupy substantially the same horizontal plane, and serve to support the seat H, which seat may be constructed from rigid or flexible material, as described.

When the seat is constructed from rigid material, as shown in Fig. 3, it rests upon the upper rungs D and F, and is Vconnected therewith by means of metal loops I and K, which are attached toits under side, and encircle, respectively, said rungs in the order named-the front loop I being caused to embrace said rung D closely, so as to form a pivotal bearing for said seat, while said rear loop K embraces the rear and lower sides only of said rung F, and extends forward to a point near the longitudinal center of said seat.

When a flexible seat is employed, its front and rear edges are fastened directly to the rungs D and F in the usual manner.

As thus constructed, it will be seen that the lower portions of the rails A and the bars E form legs for and upon Vwhich the chair` rests, and that the natural tendency of said legs to be spread apart by the weight of a person sitting in said chair` checked by the pin e, which projects from the upper end of each of said bars E into the re- When not in use, the chair may be caused 'to occupy comparatively little space by pressing upward upon the rung D, and causing the bars C and E to occupy the positions shown in Fig. l. l I

When thus folded together, it will be seen that the inward extension of the rear loop K permits the rigid seat to move rearward and downward over the rung F, so as to cause said seat to occupy a position substantially in a line with the rails and bars5but when a enters int-o a is effectually flexible seat is used, said seat will readily fold together and accom modate itself to the changed positions of other parts.

An arm is fixed to each side of the chair, and consists of a horizontal portion, L,'which is pivoted at one end to or upon the outer face of the rail A, and from thence extends forward and slightly upward, and a second l bar, M, that is pivoted at one end to or upon the end of the rung D, and from thence -eX- tends upward and rearward, and has its upper end hinged to or upon the lower side of said bar L. l

When the chair is folded the hinged central portion of the arm moves upward until the rear face of the bar M, and the lower face of the bar L, are brought into Contact.

The chair thus constructed is capable ot' occupying a comparatively small space when folded together', and when opened is so thoroughly braced as to enable it to withstand all l strains likely to be thrown upo'n a chair.

Having thus fully set forth the nature and merits of my invention, what I claim as new 1.` The hereinbefore-described chair, in which the rails A, provided with recesses a, bars C and E, thelatter having pins e, rungs D and F, and seat H, are combined in the manner and for the purpose substantially as specified.

2. rIhe hereinbefore-described chair, in which the rails A, provided with recesses a, crossbars B, rails C and E, the latter having pins e, rungs D, F, and G, seat H, and arm bars L and M, are combined to operate in the manner and for the purpose substantially as shown.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 11th day of December, 1876.

BENJAMIN F. LITTLE.

Witnesses:

W. MERRIFIELD, R. B. PRINDLE. 

